Canadian immigration program
Temporary Resident Visa — Visitor
A Temporary Resident Visa for visitors is the entry document a foreign national from a visa-required country needs to travel to Canada for a temporary stay. Eligibility turns on establishing a genuine temporary purpose, ties to the home country and admissibility. The requirements below are quoted from the governing regulation and IRCC guidance.
Sources on this page last verified Jul 16, 2026.
Eligibility criteria
The requirements below are drawn directly from the governing regulation and IRCC program guidance for Temporary Resident Visa — Visitor. Each is anchored to the verbatim source text, not a paraphrase, so you can read the rule as it is written and follow it to the official page.
“provide any additional document requested by the officer to establish your admissibility”
“your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you don't plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“It shows that you meet the requirements needed to travel to Canada.”
“be in good health (complete a medical examination if required)”
“convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit”
“digital copy of the employment contract”
“digital copy of an Introduction Letter from recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner”
“digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada”
“digital copy of Seaman's Book”
“You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.”
“a letter that authorizes a minor child to travel to Canada (if applicable)”
“have no criminal or immigration-related convictions”
“be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity”
“not be a risk to the security of Canada”
“not intend to work or study in Canada unless authorized to do so”
“Your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel”
“have enough money for your stay”
“convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country”
“You must include a letter from a person or business inviting you to Canada”
“You must show proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada”
“Foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda can’t travel to Canada as of May 27, 2026.”
“Foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda can’t travel to Canada as of May 27, 2026.”
“a digital copy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document”
Documents and eligibility gates
Every requirement below is quoted verbatim from the official source and linked back to it. Navisa reads and cites the governing text rather than restating a document name from memory. This is a reference summary, not immigration advice, and it does not replace review by a licensed RCIC.
Eligibility gate
“Visitor/eTA routing requires nationality / visa-exempt status facts.”
Eligibility gatebusiness_visitor
“your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
Eligibility gatebusiness_visitor
“you don't plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
Eligibility gatevisitor_visa
“Foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda can’t travel to Canada as of May 27, 2026.”
Eligibility gatevisitor_visa
“have no criminal or immigration-related convictions”
Eligibility gatevisitor_visa
“Foreign nationals living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda can’t travel to Canada as of May 27, 2026.”
Eligibility gatevisitor_visa
“You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.”
Eligibility gatetourist
“You must include a letter from a person or business inviting you to Canada”
Eligibility gatemarine_crew_member
“digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada”
Eligibility gate
“a letter that authorizes a minor child to travel to Canada (if applicable)”
Eligibility gatetourist
“You must show proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada.”
Eligibility gate
“a digital copy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document”
Eligibility gate
“have enough money for your stay”
Eligibility gatebusiness_visitor
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
Eligibility gate
“Your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you plan to travel”
Required document
“This form must be completed by each person applying for a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Canada.”
Required document
“You may need to [give biometrics](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp) with your application.”
Required document
“If you are in a common-law union, you **must** also request and fill out the _Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union_ [IMM 5409] form and include it with your application.”
Required document
“Use the [Document Checklist [IMM 5484]](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm5484.html) (opens in a new tab) to assist you in gathering the required documents to submit your application.”
Required document
“what you need to travel to Canada: an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visa.”
Required document
“If you already have a **valid** visitor visa, you can use that to travel to Canada until it expires.”
Required document
“This form must be completed by each person, 18 years of age or older, applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, a study or work permit outside Canada.”
Required documenttemporary_resident_intent
“Convince an immigration officer that you have ties such as a job, home, financial assets or family.”
Required document
“**Attach a copy** of this receipt to your completed application.”
Required document
“letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada”
Required documentvisitor_visa
“You may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.”
Required documenttourist
“You must include a letter from a person or business inviting you to Canada”
Required documentvisitor_visa
“letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.”
Required documentbusiness_visitors
“prepare letters of invitation”
Required documentmarine_crew
“digital copy of the employment contract”
Required documentmarine_crew
“digital copy of an Introduction Letter from recruiter shipping agency or vessel owner”
Required documentmarine_crew
“digital copy of a signed Letter of Invitation from a ship or port agent in Canada”
Required document
“If you are married, you **must** send a photocopy of your marriage licence or certificate with your application.”
Required document
“You may also need a medical exam”
Required document
“If you have an upfront medical exam, you must submit proof that you completed the medical exam with your application.”
Required document
“a letter that authorizes a minor child to travel to Canada (if applicable)”
Required documentidentity
“Examples of identity and civil status documents include national ID card.”
Required documentidentity
“All applicants need to include a digital copy of your valid passport or travel document.”
Required document
“a digital copy of your valid (not expired) passport or travel document”
Required document
“Provide two photos meeting the requirement of the [Visa application photograph specifications](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/temporary-resident-visa-application-photograph-specifications.html). On the back of two photos, write your name and date of birth.”
Required documentfunds
“You must have enough money for your stay.”
Required document
“If you are not a citizen of the country or territory where you are applying, you **must** send proof of your legal status in the country or territory you live in when you submit your application.”
Required documenttourist
“You must show proof of your relationship with the person or family member inviting you to Canada.”
Required documentmarine_crew
“digital copy of Seaman’s Book”
Required document
“You **must** include the following **along with** any document that is not in English or French: - the English or French translation; **and** - an [affidavit](/en/services/immigration-citizenship/helpcentre/glossary.html#affidavit) from the person who completed the translation (if they are not a [certified translator](/en/services/immigration-citizenship/helpcentre/glossary.html#certified_translator)).”
Required documentvisitor_visa
“have a [valid travel document](/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/passport-travel-document.html), like a passport”
Required documenttransit_visa
“To obtain a transit visa you must provide specific evidence of your travel itinerary from your transportation company or travel agent.”
Required document
“Fill out this form **only** if you: - are appointing a representative; - need to update contact information for your previously appointed representative; **or** - are cancelling a representative’s appointment.”
Required document
“Include **a letter of explanation** with your application stating: “I am a Venezuelan national with a Venezuelan passport, which has been extended for 5 years”.”
Recent policy changes affecting this program
Tracked changes Navisa has tagged to this program, dated and cited to their official source.
Proposeddetected Jul 14, 2026
Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 160, Number 25: Rules Amending the Refugee Protection Division Rules
The IRB launched a written consultation on RPD and RAD Rules on June 25, 2025, receiving 11 submissions from IRB Consultative Committee stakeholders (includi…
In forcedetected Jul 6, 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - Ministerial instructions - Canada.ca
Ministerial Instructions covering temporary measures, pilot programs, and modifications to other temporary and permanent residency programs outside of Expres…
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